It’s Your Time for Self-Care

We live in a world designed to distract us. Our clicks and views are worth money and so our technology has been well adapted to ensnare and maintain engagement. But we are adaptable creatures and thus we become acclimated to that information bombardment. We become habituated to distraction and information overload. In so doing we have become stressed out and uncomfortable with silence and stillness, all of which takes its toll on our health.

It is no surprise that the need for self-care is on the rise and that so many have taken to ideas like Forest Bathing and Forest Therapy to find solace and healing in the woods. I can’t say I have ever met someone who did not instinctively feel that getting outdoors is good for you. Simply tuning out from the assault on our senses modern life has become is enough to begin rediscovering ourselves. The beneficial effect of spending time in nature has not gone unnoticed. Japan was the forerunner in this research and it has since swept the globe. The science backing practices like Forest Bathing and Forest Therapy is staggering. Such practices are no longer relegated to the touchy-feely or New Age sort it is sometimes attributed to. Everyone from stay-at-home parents to CEOs have begun to embrace this simple yet rewarding practice.

I wasn’t at all sure what to expect today. I am so happy I attended. We had a great group of people and the venue was perfect. Our guide, John was very organized, kind and informative. I left the walk feeling both relaxed AND invigorated. After a few reflective “invitations” from John and the forest, we ended with a lovely tea and chat session.

Maura, NY

Very well-run event. Our guide John was personable, knowledgeable and experienced. We had a blast and made several new friends. I thought I knew Central Park but this Meetup Experience opened a whole new side of the park to me. Highly recommend!

Jacquelyn, NYC

A lovely place and charming way to spend the morning. You will leave with a deeper connection with the natural beauty around you.

A.P., NYC

Lovely experience. Our host John provided a supportive atmosphere to calm and relax and appreciate our time together and the nettle tea was wonderful!

Berte, NYC

What a fun guide! Thanks for making me feel comfortable since I did not know anyone. I had a blast!!!

Ronnie, Garrison NY

John, the host was really friendly and the overall experience was awesome! The group was really open minded and friendly as well.

Angela, NYC

During his forest therapy meetup, I shared that I was feeling depressed and lonely. When the event was over John took his time packing up his gear and just sat with me. I said I knew he had a two-hour commute home and did not have to and he just chuckled that he was fine where he was. Later I asked for some advice and he said something about me being the better qualified person to answer and offered me a free coaching session under the trees. Wow, I don’t know much about coaching but it reall…

Shane, NJ

John has such a calming demeanor and brings such warmth and soul to his forest therapy programs. I highly recommend spending this guided time in nature if you’re feeling burnt out and disconnected from nature. The world would be such a better place if more people took the time to get back to nature and mindfulness in this way!

Britt Westfall, NJ

I have participated in a lot of meditation retreats over many years, so when I saw this experience being offered, I jumped at the chance. I’d heard of Japanese Forest Bathing/Therapy, but never done it and didn’t quite know what to expect. For me, it was even better than I’d imagined. I feel like I’ve so far only touched the surface of the gorgeous abundance of the forest as it meets the power of an aware, receptive mind. Thank you!!!

DG, Stone Ridge, NY

Through John’s guidance, I reconnected with a part of me and with nature that I had long forgotten as a person who lives amongst buildings, cars and trains. I found my childish wonder return, and my desire to feel more present and connected in the trees as well as after I returned home. It seems to me that John is a skillful facilitator that helped me connect more with my natural environments as well as connect more with myself.

Practice mindfulness and disconnect from the stress of city life with a unique forest therapy session in Central Park. This supportive, open-to-all experience features a guided walk, meditation, tea ceremony, and healing group conversation. Attendees will be able to connect with nature and meet new people who are looking to do the same—all while discovering scenes of overlooked beauty in the heart of Manhattan.

Rain or shine.

Cost is $35. This is part of Meetup.com’s new Experiences service.

I estimate the event will take 3 hours. Time tends to pass quickly.

Meeting just inside the W 103rd street entrance of Central Park. Right across the street from B/C train stop.

** Weekend subways are weird and there has been some construction at some stops so you may need to take a train to W110 and walk down.

Practice mindfulness and disconnect from the stress of city life with a unique forest therapy session in Central Park. This supportive, open-to-all experience features a guided walk, meditation, tea ceremony, and healing group conversation. Attendees will be able to connect with nature and meet new people who are looking to do the same—all while discovering scenes of overlooked beauty in the heart of Manhattan.

Rain or shine.

Cost is $35. This is part of Meetup.com’s new Experiences service.

I estimate the event will take 3 hours. Time tends to pass quickly.

Meeting just inside the W 103rd street entrance of Central Park. Right across the street from B/C train stop.

** Weekend subways are weird and there has been some construction at some stops so you may need to take a train to W110 and walk down.

This walk will be on monastery grounds. This is not a Buddhist event, nor do we have any affiliation with the monastery, HOWEVER, please respect their preference for modest clothing (no shorts, tank tops, or overly revealing outfits) and if you pack food, keep it vegetarian.

Cost: $25 (sliding scale for those in need)

After the walk, the dining hall serves a $6 vegetarian lunch noon-1pm and visitors are welcome to explore the grounds as well as the Great Buddha Hall which is certainly a sight to see! I plan to mediate there after lunch so if you are interested in a meditation primer just ask!

All participants must sign a simple liability waiver at the start of the event to allow us peace of mind in offering our walks to the public.

Part mindfulness walk and part forest therapy, this is an abbreviated version of my Forest Therapy program designed to recharge after a long day at the office.

Rain or shine.

Cost is $20. If you are not able to afford the fee please reach out to me for sliding scale options. The fee helps support this service and allows me to be flexible with those who need the help. (If you need to pay cash please contact me privately.)

If you attended one of my events in the past month please take 50% off – contact me privately to RSVP.

This is a short event – 1 to 1.5 hours. Time tends to pass quickly and I want to be mindful of your time.

(If you wear high heels, bring flats.)

We’ll meet just inside the W 103rd street entrance of Central Park. Right across the street from B/C train stop. There are bathrooms close by.

All participants must sign a simple liability waiver at the start of the event to allow us peace of mind in offering our walks to the public.

Practice mindfulness and disconnect from the stress of city life with a unique forest therapy session in Central Park. This supportive, open-to-all experience features a guided walk, meditation, tea ceremony, and healing group conversation. Attendees will be able to connect with nature and meet new people who are looking to do the same—all while discovering scenes of overlooked beauty in the heart of Manhattan.

Rain or shine.

Cost is $35. This is part of Meetup.com’s new Experiences service.

I estimate the event will take 3 hours. Time tends to pass quickly.

Meeting just inside the W 103rd street entrance of Central Park. Right across the street from B/C train stop.

** Weekend subways are weird and there has been some construction at some stops so you may need to take a train to W110 and walk down.

Learn about the Japanese healing practice of forest bathing (shinrin-yoku) from an experienced forest therapy guide, John Polemis, founder of Hudson Valley Forest Therapy. We’ll start indoors at Mirabai with an introduction to the practice and how to get the most from it, as well as taking some time for questions. Then we will move to the nearby Comeau Property for a full forest therapy session outdoors (around 2 hours). We’ll end with an informal tea ceremony and light snacks. Feel free to pack a lunch for afterward! A few mats/chairs will be available but consider bringing something to sit on outdoors. Total time of the event is expected to be around 3 hours and attendees are welcome to linger to enjoy the property and/or mingle afterward.

Cost: $25 if registered and prepaid by Jun 28th; $30 if registering after the 28th.